Ars Boni Ars Boni Episode 14 - Corona Als Katalysator der Medienkrise In Österreich
Apr 23, 2020
This discussion features Muzayen Al-Youssef, an editor at Der Standard specializing in digital policy, Daniel Sokolov, North America correspondent for Heise Verlag focused on tech trends, and Barbara Wimmer, journalist at Futurezone covering digital journalism. They delve into the drastic impact of COVID-19 on Austrian digital journalism, from the financial shock to media revenues to the struggles of maintaining journalistic integrity. Topics include the challenges of reporting on COVID-19 apps, the urgent need for sustainable funding models, and the ethical implications of immunity passports.
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Travel And Conferences Disappeared
- Daniel described how conferences and travel composed much of his pre-pandemic reporting routine, which vanished overnight.
- He found early online streams poor substitutes because hallway conversations and informal contacts disappeared.
Technical Transition Hindered Early Reporting
- Remote work and missing infrastructure delayed critical editorial debate and reporting quality early in the crisis.
- IT teams and new workflows took weeks to stabilise, slowing investigative coverage.
Staff Cuts Erode Specialist Scrutiny
- Shrinking newsrooms reduce specialist knowledge and weaken scrutiny of complex issues like rights and tech.
- Fewer specialized journalists mean less depth and more vulnerability to PR narratives.